Sunday, May 2, 2010

PITTSBURGH - At what point does it stop being a fluke? When does it actually become a formula for victory?

Is four times enough?

Four times where the Canadiens grabbed a lead and held on for dear life. Four times where they hoped that Jaroslav Halak would bail them out. Four times where the Canadiens allowed a ton of perimeter shots but actually did a reasonably good job protecting the front of their net. Four times where a game that looks like they should have lost instead turned into a win.

It's not a marvelous formula for winning. But it's working.

The only question is what happens if the Canadiens don't get a lead they need to protect? How do they win then?

For four of the past five games they haven't needed to worry about that question. They got their second period lead and sat on it. Successfully.

Halak is a big part of that, the penalty killers are a big part of that, and Jacques Martin's defensive system that everyone appears to adhere to is also a big part of that.

But the question remains: What does Martin do to overcome a deficit?

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

In the meantime, here's my story today for The Canadian Press and I wrote kind of the same thing I just did here for CBC.ca, except it's a lot longer. It hasn't been posted as I'm typing this, but you can find it here.

Can't wait to get back home Monday, I would imagine Montreal is jumping tonight.

Who you're reading

I'm a freelance sports reporter working in Montreal who has covered the Habs since 2000. I used to be obsessed with the Canadiens by choice, and for free. Now I'm paid to do the same thing. It's pretty sweet.